This course is no longer available

Latest User Comments

I would like to...

Course Availability

This course is only available to trainees days after purchase.
It would need to be repurchased by the trainee if not completed in the allotted time period.
This course is no longer available.
You will need to repurchase if you wish to take the course again.

Description

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) non-adherence is one of the strongest predictors of the advancement of human immunodeficiency virus to AIDS, and a known causative effect of medication-resistant strains of the virus. With non-adherence between 57.2% and 10.1% in the UK, and with the advancing role of nurses at the forefront of HIV care, it is important nurses have the evidence-based knowledge to promote adherence effectively. The aim of this module is to review research identifying the barriers to and predictors of ART adherence, and the efficacy of interventions to overcome barriers and promote long-term successful therapy. Barriers identified included adverse-effects of treatment, complicated regimens, lack of social support and co-morbid mental health disorders. Numerous interventions to improve adherence are available to healthcare workers, including educational, technical and behavioural interventions. However, a combination of interventions tailored to the individual, seem to yield the greatest results. Ensuring maximum contact between the patient and a named nurse leads to improved continuity of care. This way, a trusting relationship can be developed, enabling effective monitoring of barriers to adherence and use of appropriate interventions.

Objectives

Adherence to ART is difficult to measure because of the subjective nature of definitions of adherence. However, a study has found that non-adherence to ART is anywhere from 57.2% to 10.1% in the UK, depending on how many missed doses of treatment constitute non-adherence (Sherr et al 2010).

This module aims to help you review current research on ART adherence, summarising the factors that affect adherence. It will also assist you to examine the efficacy of strategies to overcome the barriers to promote successful long-term ART.

On completion of this course you will gain be able to:

Summarise briefly why high levels of ART adherence are important to HIV-positive patients.